I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

"You’re being completely unreasonable." Song Nanzhen quickly calmed down. He had never realized his wife could be so stubborn. "Since you’ve already given Yun Zhao’s share to Qing Han, Qing Han’s dowry is more than sufficient for her marriage into the Marquis Mansion."

"What do you mean by that? You’re her father! Are you saying you won’t contribute to your own daughter’s dowry?" Mrs. Cai had brought this up specifically to get her husband to give more money for their daughter, never imagining he would refuse.

Song Nanzhen’s expression turned completely cold. "Don’t you know perfectly well why I’m doing this?"

Mrs. Cai’s expression shifted rapidly. ’Just because I didn’t prepare a dowry for Song Yunzhao, he’s going to give the share meant for Qing Han to Song Yunzhao instead?’

Song Nanzhen had no desire to argue with her. As he was leaving, he threw a final sentence over his shoulder: "You don’t just have a daughter; you have a son. And I don’t just have the children you bore; I have other children as well."

’Song Qinghan had already been ruined by Mrs. Cai’s influence. If his eldest son also continued to be so foolish, he, as their father, would not sit idly by.’

Mrs. Cai was shocked. In all their years of marriage, this was the first time her husband had ever said such a thing to her, and a flutter of panic rose in her chest.

’That’s right. There were still the two children born to Aunt Che.’

Mrs. Cai cursed herself for not being ruthless enough to eliminate her back then. ’Now, it was like she had raised a tiger that had become a threat to her own children.’

News of the couple’s argument quickly reached Aunt Che. She immediately sat before her mirror and began to meticulously apply her makeup. She was a woman past her prime and no longer possessed the beauty of her youth, but in all these years, the Master had not taken any new women into the mansion.

’Besides herself, there was the pitiful Aunt Feng, whose son had died before he was even a month old. She had never recovered and was bedridden for half of every year.’

’Aunt Qin was a few years younger, but without a son, she naturally lacked any real standing.’

Aunt Che carefully dabbed powder to conceal the fine lines at the corners of her eyes. After admiring her reflection, she chose a lake-blue dress that accentuated the slender waist she had maintained for so many years.

Outside, her personal maid was already waiting with a container of soup. She had timed it perfectly, telling the kitchen to stew the soup so that it would be ready at precisely this moment.

’This was a heaven-sent opportunity. The Master and Madam had parted on bad terms, which gave her the perfect opening to exploit.’

Aunt Che felt nothing improper about taking advantage of the situation. Being a concubine meant surviving in the margins. If she wasn’t sharp, she’d end up just like Aunt Feng or Aunt Qin.

She carried the soup to the front study herself. The attendant guarding the door saw her and quickly stopped her.

Aunt Che smiled and said, "Please inform the Master. If he doesn’t wish to see me, I will simply return."

"Please wait a moment, Aunt," the attendant said. He had a very good impression of Aunt Che. Though she was one of the Master’s favorites, she never gave the servants any trouble.

Soon, the attendant returned to give her permission, and Aunt Che entered the study carrying the soup. The curtains by the window were drawn, leaving the room half-lit, and Aunt Che proceeded with even greater caution.

She approached quietly, a gentle smile on her face. "Master," she said softly, "I had the kitchen prepare your favorite ginseng soup. You’ve grown thin while away on assignment; you must build up your strength."

Song Nanzhen hadn’t originally wanted to see Aunt Che, but he remembered his second daughter’s marriage and decided to let her in to ask about it. Now, listening to her soft, caring words, he felt his irritation begin to subside.

"You could have just let the servants handle these trifles," Song Nanzhen said, gesturing for Aunt Che to sit.

Aunt Che sat down beside him, personally ladled out the ginseng soup, and said with a laugh, "I’ve grown so used to doing it over the years. If you let someone else do it, what would be left for me?"

Song Nanzhen took a sip from the bowl. The taste was familiar. After he finished the soup, much of his anger had subsided.

Song Nanzhen did not mention his displeasure with Mrs. Cai. Instead, he looked at Aunt Che and said, "I have been informed of Jinxuan’s engagement. It is a good match. You should prepare well for her. In addition to the standard allowance from the household, I will add another share for Jinxuan so that she may be married off honorably."

Aunt Che was overjoyed and rose to her feet at once. "On behalf of our second daughter, I thank you, Master. With your promise, she will be able to marry with dignity."

Aunt Che had long known that the Madam would never supplement her daughter’s dowry; she never expected such mercy from her. The allowance from the family’s public coffers was a fixed amount. For a concubine’s daughter getting married, the dowry was typically five hundred taels.

Over the years, Aunt Che had managed to save some money of her own. She would set aside half for her son and give the other half to her daughter. Combined with the Master’s supplement, the dowry would finally be presentable.

Aunt Che knew the Master’s temperament well, so she showed only extreme delight and did not press for any further demands.